Out to block the BNP Nazis

Published Tue 10 Apr 2007

Issue No. 2046

The fascist British National Party (BNP) is to contest a record number of seats in the elections on 3 May – but a broad coalition of trade unionists and activists has vowed to campaign against the Nazis on the ground.

Unite Against Fascism is coordinating a series of local campaigns in wards where the BNP is standing. It aims to expose the BNP as a fascist organisation that denies the Holocaust and wants an all-white Britain.

The Unite campaign has drawn the support of Iain Banks, the Scottish novelist and science fiction writer. “The BNP are a bunch of desperate fascist losers. They have halitosis of the brain; their ideas stink,” he said.

Actor Rhys Ifans attacked the BNP’s campaign of race hatred in Wales. “The ethnic communities that you dare to vilify in Wales are speaking Welsh, feeling Welsh and will forever be welcome in Wales. Let our immigrants stay and take your ignorance away,” he said.

Unite activities this weekend include mass leafleting campaigns in Barnsley, Leeds, York and Sheffield. See the Unite website for a diary of Unite activities in BNP target areas (details below).

The Love Music Hate Racism campaign is working with Unite by organising a series of gigs up and down the country to mobilise young people against the BNP. These include a rally and gig at Glasgow university on Thursday of this week headlined by Belle & Sebastian.

Unite is also lobbying broadcasters to stop giving the Nazis free rein to use the media to spread their lies unchallenged.

“It’s a disgrace that the fascist BNP will be given free TV broadcasts to spread their dangerous message of race hate and division,” said Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite.

“We call on postal workers not to deliver the BNP’s literature and on BBC employees to pull the plugs on the BNP’s broadcasts.”

For more details on how you can help fight the Nazis go to www.uaf.org.uk